Tube cleaner



June 18, 1935.- o. J. BAGNOLI Er AL 2,005,359A

` TUBE CLEANER Filed Nov. 29, Iss @sheets-*sheet 1 f4 IMI I l//////////1/ X/l/V //l//////////l Z6 .FOR HRH/ING MEMBER June 18, v1935. o. J. BAGNOLI Er AL 2,005,359

TUBE CLEANER Filed Nov. 29. 1955 "2 .sneets-sneet/)a 9 .Ayia

@i l @www aan, NJA y lt/22V rmi.. BY A Patented June 1s, '1935' l UNITED vSTATE:

poration of New York `Application November 29, 19.33, Serial No. 700,174

8 Claims.

This Yinvention relates to devices for cleaning the inner walls of tubes, such as'boil'er tubes, to

remove scaleandincrustations therefrom. More particularly, the-invention is concerned with a v5 novel tube cleaner 'of the rotary type which functions with a continuous action and which, with minor changeseasily made, may be employed either at high or low speeds and with either an electric or a iiuid motor' as a driving means.'

Cleaning devices for use in boiler tubes as heretofore` constructed have ordinarily included a body'and a plurality of working elements car- .ried on 'pivoted arms or swing flames mounted on the body and moved outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force as the device rotatesto bring the elements into contact Withthe deposit to be removed. Such devices are vibratory in action, since the -arms or frames are moved backwardly' against the centrifugal force by their impact on the scale and are then moved outwardlyas the -centrifugal force overcomes the force developed by the impact.` The working parts thus remove the scale `by chipping or hammering it, off and because of this action, the devices are not likely to remove the deposits cleanly and they leave behind minute particles of the scale on-the tube Wall with the result that the surface is rough and further deposits may readily buildup again thereon.

A further objection to cleaners in which the contact of theworking elements with the deposit torbe removed is effected by centrifugal action is that they must be rotated at relatively high speeds in order that the workingl elements may striketheV deposit with sufficient force to re. move it. As a consequence, these devices neces.- sitate 'the use of a high speed motor of veither the electric or'fluid types and the effectiveness of their action largely 'depends on their speed of'rotation.

The present invention is accordingly directed to the provision of a novel tube cleaning device which is provided with a plurality of working elements which are continuously forced toward cleaning position by means carried within the device so that theelements-engage the surface to'be cleaned substantially continuously and thus remove the deposit 'more' eiectively than has been possible with prior devices. The `new cleaner is simple and inexpensive toV construct,

can be 'readily assembled and takenapart, and

is of compact construction so that it can be used Also, the device is strong and powerful in action and its smali size permitsit to be used eiectively in small tubes The device is preferably driven by an electric motor through the medium of the usual flexible shaft but; with simple changes, it can be converted into a form suitable for use with a fluid motor having a low starting torque as the driving means. The ease with which the device can be s- PATENT OFFICE assembled and taken apart permits these changes l to be-made rapidly on the job withordinary tools. Y

AWhile the principles of thejnvention may be -incorporated in devices of differentconstructions, one form of cleaner constructed in accordance with our invention includes a body provided with a plurality of radial openings or slots leading outwardly from a central chamber. The cleaning elements take the form of blades mounted within the radial slots and they are. confined therein againstcomplete removal by suitable means mounted on the body'and removable therefrom. Means are alsoprovided within the central chamber for maintaining the blades in proper Working positions in the slots and the means used may include a resilient member which actscontinuously on the blades tol force them outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the body.

With-the arrangement described, the working elements or blades ofthe cleaner are held in their proper Working positions in the slotsvby the action of the resilient member and the main' tenance of the blades inthis position is-not dependent upon centrifugal force. The cleaner will accordingly perform its functions at low speeds of rotation Aand may be driven by a low speed electric motor. When in use, the blades are acted on by centrifugal force which supplements the conditions of use, the blades are maintained sub` stantially continuously in such positions as to engage the surfaces to be acted on and their cleaning action is thus continuous rather'than intermittent. Y

Cleaning devices operated byY fluid motors which have a low starting torque must have working elements which can yield under impact against the deposit, since otherwise the torque of the motor might be insuihcient to bring the device up to speed. The present cleaner may be used with such low starting torque motors, however, by-I minor changes which can be quickly made.

The device, therefore, is capable 'of use d with driving motors of'all types, although it offers the greatest advantages when driven by an electric motor of either high or low speed.-

on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end view of another form of the new device.

Figure 6 is a sectional view partly in elevation on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view partly in elevation on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view partly in elevation on the line 9 9 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a sectional view partly in elevation of another form of the device.

Figure 11 is a sectional view partly in elevation of another form of the device, and

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the parts of` a device similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 in position for assembly.

In the drawings, one form of the new tube cleaning device is illustrated in Figures l to 4, inclusive, as including a body 20 of generally cylindricalform having a central chamber 2l which is open at one end of the body and extends along the longitudinal axis of the body for nearly the entire length thereof. A plurality of radial openings or slots 22 are formed in the body and le'ad outwardly from the central chamber and through the curved wall of the body. 'I'hese slots arealso open'at the end of the body which con-` tains the entrance to the chamber.

Mounted loosely in each slot is a working element 23 in the form of a flat blade. This blade has an operating edge 24 and is provided at its ends with lugs 26. The blades are held in the slots by suitable means carried by the body and, for this tion with a portionof it overlying one lug of each blade. A collar 29 is mounted on the other end of the body and has a portion overlying the other lug of each blade. This collar has a tongue 3 0 which enters one of the slots and prevents the collar from rotating and it is held in place by a bolt 3| which is' threaded into the end of the chamber and passes through an opening in the collar. -The bolt is locked in position by a washer 32 interposed lbetween the head of the bolt and the collar and having a deformable tongue 33 which may be turned up to engage one flat face of the bolt head. The washer is also provided wtih a tongue 34 which enters one of the slots.

With the 'construction described, the rotation of the device by a suitable motor would caus the blades to be forced outwardly to a position in which their lugs engage the overhanging portions of the collars. The blades would be maintained in this working' position during rotation by centrifugal force but upon engagement of the blades with the scale in a tube, the impact would be likely to overcome the centrifugal force'and cause the blades to move inwardly until the force of impact V was overcome by the centrifugal force, whereupon the blades would be restored to working position centrifugally. The blades would accordingly operate with a vibratory action.

In order to maintain the blades in proper working position at all times, regardless of the action of centrifugal force, and thereby avoid the vibratory action, means are provided within the central chamber which act on the blades continuously and tend to force them out of the slots. The means may take 'various forms but one satisfactory form includes a helical spring 34 lying within the chamberl and acting on balls 35 and 36. The inner edge of each blade is then preferably formed with a pair of cam surfaces 31, against which the balls engage, and the expansive force of the spring is transmitted through the balls and cam surfaces to the blades and causes the blades to be forced outwardly until their lugs engage the collars 21 and 29. The blades stay in this position regardless ofcentrifugal force, although thatJ force supplements the action of the spring when the device is operating.

The construction shown in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, but differs therefrom in certain respects. In the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the body 20 is formed with six slots instead `of four, and the collar 38 on the solid end of the body is threaded on the shank 28 and extends beyond it to receive a portion of the drive means. At the other end, the body carries a co1- lar 39 which is held in place by a bolt 40 threaded into the end of the chamber in the body. The collar 39 is held against rotation by a pin 4l which lics within an opening in the inner face of the collar and an aligned opening in the end of the body, and the bolt is locked in place by a cotter pin 42 which passes through one of a series of bores 43 through the bolt and has its ends lying in a channel 44 in the face of the collar.

'I'he collars 38 and 39 overlie the lugs 26 on the ends of the blades and prevent complete removal of the blades. The latter are held in proper working position by a spring 34 within the chamber which surrounds the shanks of a pair of headed members 45, 46. The shank 45B of the member 45 is a solid rod which enters the hollow shank 46a of the member 46 and the spring acts to force the members apart. The heads of the members engage cam surfaces 31 on the inner edges of the blades, and the spring thus acts, in a manner similar to that of the spring 34 in the Figure 2 construction,to force the blades outward-ly and hold them balanced with both lugs on each blade engaging the collars on the body.

The construction shown in Figures 9 and 10 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. but in the Figure 10 form, the body is reversed. The blades lie within slots as before and the solid end of the -body carries a collar 41 which is threaded on the shank 28 and held in place by a headed pin 48 which passes through a bore through the shank and aligned bores in the collar. At the other end, the body carries the collar 21 which is held in place by a nut 49 on a threaded rod 5D which enters the end of the-central chamber 2l in the body. The blades have lugs 26 engaging the collars 21 and 41 and they are held in proper working position by a spring 34 which forces balls 35 and 36 against cam surfaces 31 on the inner edges of the blades.

As previously mentioned, it may be necessary in some instances to' employ the new cleaner withv A a motor of low starting torque which might not be able to bring the cleaner up to speed in the tube, if the blades were-held firmly in position so that they would not yield readilyV under impact.

When this situation arises, the new vcleaner'may be modined to meet it by removing the spring ordinarily used' and. substituting a weaker one.

Preferably, however, the spring and balls 35, 36 or members 45, 4S are removed from tlie central chamber of the body and av short rod or slug 5I is inserted, asshown inFigure 11. .With the slug in use, the blades are moved out to working'position byeentrifugal force as'the device rotates, and during the starting of the device when the centrifugal force-is relatively weak, the blades may be forced inward by impact. 'Ihe slug prevents the blades from slipping out of the slots into the centralchamber and if the slug were not employed, a blade at one side of the device might slip inwardly into the chamber if the opposite blade were at its extreme outer position.

The substitution of the slug for the spring and balls, or reversely, may be readily performed on the job with simple tools as`will be apparent from Figure 12 illustrating the method of assembling' the device. The spring and balls are iirst placed in the central chamber and the blades slipped into the slots.

' blades and washer 32 is placed against the end th'e end of the chamber.

of collar 29 and bolt 3| threaded through it into The tongue 33 on the washer is then deformed to lock the boltin place and the cleaner is ready to be connected to' the driving means. These operations can all be per- -iormed manually and the only tools necessary are a wrench and a punchnr similarimpleinent for deforming the locking tongue.' The parts of a device similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 are sh'own in perspective in Figure 12 in the position for assembly. The parts are the same as those of the Figure 2 form except that 'cleaning elements loosely mounted respectively ini-said openings, and extending substantially radially from said central chamber, each of said elements having a cam surface on the inner edge thereofv in said central` chamber, a member in said chamber engaging the cam surfaces of all of said cleaning elements, asingle resilient means disposed longitudinally in saidv chamber in engagement with said member and resiliently expansible lengthwise of said body, said resilient meansacting through said member and said cam. surfaces toviorce all of said cleaning elements outwardly from said chamber, and means. on said body engageable with'parts of said cleaning elements to 'prevent complete removal o f said elements from` said openings.

2, A rotary tube cleaner comprising a'hollow elongated body having openings therein extending lengthwise of said body and'communicating with a central chamber within thebody, said. body being' rotatable about-its longitudinal axis,

and preventing the complete extending substantially radially from said chamr on the inner portionA of each end thereof, a pair ofmer'nbers in the chamber each engaging the cam surface at -one end of each element, resilient ber, each of said elements having a cam surface means yin the ,chamber interposed between said Y members and exp'a'nsiblc lengthwise of said body. said means acting 'upon the members to force said\ elements outwardly from the chamber, and means on the body engageable with parts of said elc-` ments from the openings.

.mentsvfor preventing vcomplete removal of the elc- Y 3. A rotary tubevcleaner comprising a hollow ings and extending substantially radially from said chamber, each of said elements -having a cam surface on the inner portion of each end thereof,

.a pair of members in -the chamber each engaging the cam "surface at one end -of' each cleaning element, resilient means in the chamber interpos'ed between said members andv expansible lengthwise of said body, said means acting upon the members to force vsaid elements outwardly from the chamber, and removable collars on' the ends ofthe body overlying parts of said elementsv removal of said elements from the openings.

4.' A rotary tube cleaner comprising a hollowelongated body having substantiallyradial openings therein extending lengthwise of said body and communicating with a central chamber within the body, said body being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a plurality ofcleaning elements Y mounted in said openings and extending substantially radially from said chamber, each of said elements having a cam surface on the inner portion oi'each end thereof; a pair of balls in the chamber each engaging the cam surface at one end of each element, a, spring in said chamber extending lengthwise of the body and lying between said balls, said spring forcing said balls 'against said cam surfaces to force said elements outwardly from said chamber, and means on the bodyfor preventing complete removal of the elements from the openings.

"5. A rotary tube cleaner comprising an elon.- gated hollow body having substantially radial openings therein extending lengthwise 'of said body and communicating with a central chamber within the body, said body being rotatable' about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of cleaning elements mounted in said openings and extending substantially radially from said chamber, each of said elements having a cam surface on the inner portion of each'end thereof. a pair of members in the chamber each engaging the cam surfaceat.. one end of each element, resilient 'means ini the. chamber interposed between said members and cleaning elements forpreventing complete re-v moval `of the elements from said openings, said collar being held on said projection bysaid drive' ingmember.

6. A rotary tube cleaner compris' elongated body having substantiallv radial opengahollow ings therein extending lengthwise of said body and communicating with a central chamberwithin the body, said body being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of cleaning elements nounted in said openings and extending substantially radially from'said chamber, each of said elements having a cam surface on the inner portion of each end thereof, aA pair of headed members within said chamber each engaging the cam surface at one end of each element, a coiled spring within the chamber extending lengthwise of said body and interposed between the heads of said members, said members lying partly within the coils of the spring and being acted upon by the spring to force the elements outwardly from said chambers, and means on the body for preventing complete removal of the elements from the openmgs. y

7. A rotary tube cleaner comprising an elongated hollow body having openings therein extending lengthwise of said body and communieating with a central chamber within the body,

said' body being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of cleaning elements mounted in said openings and extending substantially radially from said chamber, each of said elements having a cam surface on the inner portion of each end thereof, a pair of members in the chamber each 4engaging the cam surface at one end of each element, resilient means in the chamber interposed between said members and expansible lengthwise of the body, said means acting upon the'members to force said elements outwardly from the chamber, and a member at one end of the body having a portion overlying parts of said elements for preventing the complete removal of the elements from said openings and having another portion for connection to a driving member.

8. A rotary tube cleaner comprising an elongated hollow body having openings therein extending lengthwise of said body and communi# eating with a central chamber .within the body, said body being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of cleaning elements mounted in said openings and extending substantially radially from said chamben'each of said elements having a cam surface on the inner portion of each end thereof, a pair of members in the chamber each engaging the cam surface at one end of each element, resilient means in the chamber interposed between said members and expansible lengthwise'of the body, said means acting upon the members to force said elements outwardly from the chamber, a collar mounted on one end of the body and overlying parts of said elements, a bolt threaded into the body for securing said collar in place, a washer interposed between said collar and bolt and having a part disposed in a recess in the body, a projection on the other end of the body, a driving member secured to said projection, and a second collar mounted on said projection and overlying portions of said elements for preventing the complete removal of said elements from said other end of the b'ody, said second collar .being held in place on said body by said driving member.

ORESTE J. BAGNOLI..

THOMAS C. WILSON. J ANIES HENRY YOUNG. 

